Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALUFREL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALUFREL’, particularly characterized by having purple flowers with unique eye-catching light purple edge, 1 to 2 peduncles, leaves that are obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALUFREL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALUFREL’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withpurple flowers having unique, eye-catching light purple edges, suitablefor potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALUFREL’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in August 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of theproprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-2114’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-2134’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in August 2010. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 18, 2016. ‘PHALUFREL’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALUFREL’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Purple flowers with unique, eye-catching light purple edge;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles; and    -   3) Shape of the leaf is obovate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in July 2016. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALUFREL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALUFREL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALUFREL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALUFREL’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in July 2016 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALUFREL’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2114’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2134’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with slightly            branching lateral roots having light purple colored root            tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 44.0 cm to 54.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 33.0 cm to 37.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 5 to 7 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 19.0 cm            to 22.0 cm Width: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm Shape: Obovate Base            shape: Moderately elongated Apex: Rounded unequal Leaf blade            angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 25 degrees and 35 degrees Leaf margin:            Entire Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS            146B, with purple edge (RHS 187A) Texture: Rough Thickness:            2.3 mm to 2.6 mm Venation: Pattern: Parallel Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A Lower surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 12.        -   Length.—44.0 cm to 55.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.3 mm to 5.6 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Purple-brown (RHS 187A) with a touch of green (RHS            146B).        -   Internode length.—3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 170.0 mm to            200.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 74.0 mm to 76.0 mm Diameter: 88.0 mm to 90.0            mm Depth of lip: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 13 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium Length: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm            Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm Shape: Egg shaped Color: Dark            purple (RHS 187B) with a touch of green (RHS 146D).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free Shape: Semi-circular Apex:            Rounded asymmetric Margin: Entire Length (from base to tip):            38.0 mm to 40.0 mm Width: 52.0 mm to 55.0 mm Color (when            fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78A)            Over color: Light purple (RHS 76C) Lower surface: Basic            color: Purple (RHS N78B) Over color: Light purple (RHS 76C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Apex: Obtuse symmetric Margin:            Entire Length (from base to tip): 44.0 mm to 46.0 mm Width:            31.0 mm to 33 0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Basic color: Purple (RHS N78A) Over color: Absent Lower            surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78C) Over color: Light            purple in the middle (RHS N76C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Apex: Obtuse asymmetric Margin:            Entire Length (from base to tip): 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm Width:            28.0 mm to 30.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Basic color: Purple (RHS N78A) Over color: Red-purple (RHS            71A) Lower surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78C) Over            color: Light purple (RHS 78C/D).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present Length of whiskers: 6.0 mm            to 8.0 mm Color of whiskers: Purple (RHS 187A) with white            tips (RHS NN155C) Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate Margin: Slightly undulated            Length (from base to tip): 20.0 mm to 23.0 mm Width: 15.0 mm            to 17.0 mm Color: Red-purple (RHS 59A and N78A) with white            (RHS NN155C) and slight yellow edge (RHS 7A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular Margin: Entire Length: 20.0            mm to 22.0 mm Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm Color: Red-purple            (RHS 59A).        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large Height: 0.7 cm to 0.9            cm Length: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm Color:            Yellow (RHS 10C) with spots (RHS 183C).        -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm            Diameter: 5.4 mm to 5.5 mm Color: Purple (RHS N78A)            Pollinia: Quantity: 2 Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm Color:            Orange (RHS 24A) Ovary (part of pedicel with small ribs            towards the column): Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm Diameter: 2.4            mm to 2.6 mm Pedicel: Length: 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm Diameter:            3.0 mm to 3.2 mm Color: Purple (RHS N77B); towards the            flower light green (RHS 193A) and light purple (RHS N78D).-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility has been observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The female parent of ‘PHALUFREL’, Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2114’(unpatented), is no longer in existence so a meaningful comparisoncannot be made.

The male parent of ‘PHALUFREL’, Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2134’(unpatented), is no longer in existence so a meaningful comparisoncannot be made.

‘PHALUFREL’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALDANBO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,930) and ‘01-2165’ (unpatented).‘PHALUFREL’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDANBO’ in that‘PHALUFREL’ has sepals with light purple lower surfaces, flowers with abroad edge pattern, and a lateral lobe of the lip with an edge pattern,whereas ‘PHALDANBO’ has sepals with purple lower surfaces, flowers withan even pattern, and a lateral lobe of the lip with an even pattern.Additionally, ‘PHALUFREL’ has shorter whiskers than ‘PHALDANBO’.

‘PHALUFREL’ differs from similar variety ‘01-2165’ in that ‘PHALUFREL’has flowers with a broad edge pattern and sepals with light purple (RHSN78C/D) lower surfaces, whereas ‘01-2165’ has flowers with a small edgepattern and sepals with light purple (RHS 76C) lower surfaces with anedge (RHS N80C).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALUFREL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.